Criminal shakeup
Twelve seasons into a TV show, you would expect a few shakeups to keep things interesting. Maybe a cliffhanger? A high-concept episode?
But it wasn’t just a shakeup for Criminal Minds — it was a fullblown earthquake. Last March, star Thomas Gibson left the CBS show after an on-set dust-up in which he allegedly kicked a producer.
Then original cast member Shemar Moore absconded at the end of Season 11, and news broke that Criminal Minds would add two new regular cast members to compensate: Damon Gupton as special agent Stephen Walker, and Adam Rodriguez as FBI agent Luke Alvez.
Unsettling changes, sure. So to preserve some piece of Minds, viewer favourite Paget Brewster returned full time to play Emily Prentiss. The show also promoted Aisha Tyler, who plays Dr. Tara Lewis, to series regular status.
Now, with only four new episodes left before the season fades to black, Dr. Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) is stuck in jail and struggling, with his colleagues rallying to get him out.
It doesn’t help, though, that he may be a murderer, having swapped illicit drugs for poisonous laundry detergent in last week’s episode.
In this Wednesday’s episode, True North, the BAU is on the case after three victims are found tied to stakes in the Arizona desert.
And looking forward to the May 10 season finale, Moore will return to reprise his role as Derek Morgan.
Criminal Minds averages about seven million viewers weekly in the U.S., where it airs on CBS. In Canada, it brings in a robust average of 1.6 million viewers weekly for broadcaster CTV.
BELLEVUE
In this gritty homegrown drama, now in its first season, Annie (Anna Paquin) and the detectives revisit a previous suspect, triggering a breakthrough in the Jesse case. Annie subsequently finds herself fighting for her life. Shawn Doyle and Allen Leech also star. (CBC)